|  | 4.1 | LAN Design Goals and Components
| 4.1.1 | LAN design goals

Designing a network can be a challenging task, and involves more than just connecting computers together. A network requires many features in order to be scalable and manageable. To design reliable, scalable networks, network designers must realize that each of the major components of a network has distinct design requirements. Even a network that consists of only fifty nodes can pose complex problems that lead to unpredictable results. Attempting to design and build networks that contain thousands of nodes can pose even more complex problems. The first step in designing a LAN is to establish and document the goals of the design. These goals are particular to each organization or situation. However, the following requirements tend to show up in most network designs: Functionality-The network must work. That is, it must allow users to meet their job requirements. The network must provide user-to-user and user-to-application connectivity with reasonable speed and reliability. Scalability-The network must be able to grow. That is, the initial design should grow without any major changes to the overall design. Adaptability-The network must be designed with an eye toward future technologies, and it should include no element that would limit implementation of new technologies as they become available. Manageability-The network should be designed to facilitate network monitoring and management to ensure ongoing stability of operation. These requirements are specific to certain types of networks and more general in other types of networks. This chapter discusses how to address these requirements.
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